A MUCH-loved school governor and Coventry tour guide died suddenly after collapsing on a train, aged 79.

George Miles, governor of Coundon Primary School, collapsed of a heart condition while travelling from Birmingham to his home in Coventry.

It happened on his way back from a meeting on February 10 at about 1pm.

A fellow passenger alerted train officials to the emergency which had taken place.

The train stopped at Stechford station where paramedics rushed onto the carriage to help him.

He was taken to Birmingham’s Heartlands Hospital where he died of heart disease.

George was unaware of his life-threatening condition and just 10 days earlier had returned from a holiday in Dubai where he was staying with his ex-pat daughter Wendy.

British Transport Police visited his home in Redesdale Avenue, Coundon, to inform his wife Joyce of his death.

She said: “I couldn’t believe it when they told me.

“I was in shock because when I saw him that morning, he was fit and healthy.

“George never measured his age and never thought of himself as old.

“We all thought he would live on into his 90s.”

A community stalwart, George held the post of governor at Coundon Primary School for 13 years

And among his interests, he was a keen promoter of international relations – he was former chair of the Coventry Association for International Friendship and founded the Coventry-Dresden Society in the 1980s to foster relations between the twinned cities.

As a tour guide, George enthusiastically informed newcomers to the city of its proud history and particularly enjoyed conducting tours of Coventry Cathedral and the Undercroft.

He was born one of four siblings in Birmingham and went on to work at the Dunlop as a toolmaker.

He leaves his wife, daughter Wendy, 52, son Adrian, 49, and grandchildren Nikki and Ross.

Wendy, who caught the first plane back to England when she heard of her father’s death, paid tribute to him saying: “The worst news and greatest shock I have ever experienced was when I received a phone call to say that Dad had passed away suddenly just 10 days after soaking up the sun in Dubai.

The funeral will be held today at Canley Crematorium in the Cannon Hill Chapel at 9.45am.